//__**[1] Medical Imaging Background Information Physics is related to almost every single thing on this planet. Physics in medicine is merely related on medical iaging and radiotherapy. About 85% of medical physicists specialize or practice in various forms of therapy, 10% in diagnostic imaging, and 5% in nuclear medicine. Medical imaging and radiotherapy are used for treatments and diagnostics. Some forms include diagnostic radiology such as x-rays and ultrasounds. Since medical imaging is the most common technique and process that is utilized in the medical field it’s a demanding career. Medical and diagnostic imaging includes the creating of images of the human body for clinical and medical procedures to diagnose, examine, and treat a disease. Someone who practices or specializes in diagnostic imaging is called a radiologist. Radiologists perform tasks on humans with diseases or certain medical condition and interpret images. They utilize a wide variety of imaging technologies such as x-rays, and ultrasounds. Two forms of radiographic images are used in medical imaging which are projection radiography and fluoroscopy. These two 2D techniques are used more often despite the 3D tomography due to its low cost. GoAnimate.com: Imaging by TonyL
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Projectional Radiography
Projectional radiography also known as x-rays, are mostly used to determine the type and extent of an injury or fracture as well as detecting pathological changes in the lungs. Fluoroscopy is very similar to projectional radiography. The only difference is that fluoroscopic images display the motion of something, provided by multiple picture captures every certain number of seconds. In its movement it allows us to see a 2D visual of a certain body part for treatments of diagnostics.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is the treatment of a disease utilizing ionizing radiation and is primarily associated with cancer treatments but to a certain point is limited to treatments of non-malignant diseases. Ionizing radiations gives out energy in the area of treatment and injures or destroys cells by destroying their genetic material, allowing it to impose the cells to continue growing. However the damaging of cancer and normal cells occur, the cells are eventually able to repair themselves to heal and work properly.
Nuclear Medicine
Diagnostic nuclear medicine uses radioactive tracers when imaging and also to see a specific area of an organ. The radioactive tracing treatment is performed on a patient by injections orally or other alternatives depending on the site of treatment and organ. Once in process of detecting something, a small gamma camera is inserted to the area of an organ and is observed. Whenever a patient is given the wrong radiopharmaceuticals is called misadministration. Actually about 25% are misadministrated each year that undergo treatments. They are commonly caused due to the lack of communication errors such as improper labels of vials and syringes, distractions in the busy environment, and the high stress in emergency situations. Learning from their mistakes may be costly but also help them avoid future accidents. In cases of any misadministration it is said to take immediate use of all sources to minimize any harmful outcomes in the patient while also informing a nuclear physician and therefore calculating the wrong dosage that was given. Once all certain precautions and treatments were given then it must go down in the medical records.
Imaging
Ultrasonography is the usage of principle sound waves and physics to produce images without using radiation. These wave sounds can be determined by their amplitude and frequency which therefore show the amount of energy carried by the waves. The ultrasound spectrum is superior then a human hearing ability and is measured at approximately 20,000 hertz. It contains a transducer that picks up vibrations and produces images. The speed of propagation of sound waves depends primarily on the characteristics of tissue. The impedance of a tissue reflects its acoustic characteristics. The acoustic impedance is the product of the density of the fabric by the speed of propagation of sound waves. As the beam of sound waves moves through tissues of different acoustic characteristics, a portion of this beam is reflected. The proportion of reflected sound waves depends on the difference in acoustic impedance of the tissues traversed. The reception of echoes by the transducer will then generate an electrical current. These signals undergo a series of treatments resulting in the formation of an image in grayscale. Then all the information gathered is therefore based on differences in acoustic impedance of different structures crossings. Because ultrasound do not use X-rays or magnetic fields, it is easy to see that the information provided by this method differs from those obtained by computed tomography (CT) or MRI. An ultrasound image of a kidney is quite different from those obtained by CT or MRI. These three radiological techniques can be complementary. The diagnostic information obtained by ultrasound was taken of differences in behavior between acoustic normal tissue and diseased tissue. More acoustic behavior of this difference, the greater the lesion is easily detectable. Conversely, if the diseased tissue has acoustic properties of the surrounding healthy tissue, the injury may be difficult to identify. Diagnostic medical sonography is also implied to medical imaging. To get these images, a sonographer spreads a gel in the area of where the images are going to be taken. Mostly they are used in pregnant women. It is then that the medical sonographer goes over the womens stomach with a transducer. During this process the mother can see the images displayed on live video of the baby. This process allows the mother to see the movements of the baby, such as its heart beat and any other physical movement. Sonographers look for any malfunctions or problems in the baby. They perform these tasks on a regular basis to keep up with the baby and to make sure all signs of the baby are well. Neuroimaging uses various differente techniques to radiate images of the brain. Neurosurgeons use this to look for any abnormalities in the brains blood rush and for any types of cancers, tumors, and or injuries. This process is called structural imaging. Another way of neuroimaging is when it is used to diagnose metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer's and other injuries on a larger and better scale. sDigital Mammography is a form of mammography that utilizes digital receptors and electronics instead of x-ray film to help observe breast tissue for breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance imaging(NMRI), and medical resonance tomography is the process of medical imaging in radiology. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is the seeing of atoms in the human body. An MRI scan uses very strong and powerful magnetic field for the magnetization of certain atoms within the body and radio frequent beams from the scanner. MRI's give a good difference in contrast between the soft tissues of the body which therefore make it helpful in getting good images such as the heart, brain, and muscles. Unlike other forms of imaging, MRI's does not use ionizing radiation.
Brain Tumors
A brain tumor is a group of cells that grow in the brain abnormally. Tumors can cause a large harm to the brains cells. Brain tumors can either be malignant or benign. A malignant tumor, also known as brain cancer, which grows at a fast rate and can end up envading healthy areas of the brian. Benign tumors don't possess cancer cells. Benign cells look normal under a microscope and usually grow at a very slow rate. Brain tumors are categorized in two groups: primary or metastatic. Primary tumors begin inside the brain. A metastatic tumor is formed when cancer cells from other parts of the body move indirectly to the area of the brain and therefore metastatic tumors are alomost malignant. Brain tumors are diagnosed depending on the on the location, and the malfunctional tissues involved. If a tumor is diagnosed as malignant, the cells are observed with a microscope to b able to say how malignant it is. During this procedure, analysis are taken, rated and graded by their level of malignant proficiency from least to greatest. Specific attributes that help determine the grade of the tumor include the growth rate, the amount of blood flowing into the cells, the presence of dead cells in the center of the tumor, and if the cells are confined into certain areas and how the cancerous cells are to the normal ones. The primary cause of brain tumors is not yet known. It is believed that some environmental and genetic factors may contribute. Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures, behavior changes, memory loss, visual and hearing problems. There are many different therapy possibilities that can be used to treat brain tumors. The treatment varies on the size, growth rate, type, and the health of the patient. Possible procedures and treatments include radiational therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination. Generally surgery is the first choice of treatment, as this is the best option for reducing pressure in the brain rapidly. The procedures that have to do mor with radiation include brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and radiosurgery. Radiational therapy uses external beams of gamma rays, x-rays, or protons that are used and directed targeted to the tumors cancerous cells to kill and shrink them as much as possible. This type of treatment normally last several weeks. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a highly advanced procedure of high precision radiotherapy that uses computer generated controllers that controls x-ray accelorators in order to receive accurate radiation doses to a malignant tumor or other areas around and within the tumor.
Physics is related to almost every single thing on this planet. Physics in medicine is merely related on medical iaging and radiotherapy. About 85% of medical physicists specialize or practice in various forms of therapy, 10% in diagnostic imaging, and 5% in nuclear medicine. Medical imaging and radiotherapy are used for treatments and diagnostics. Some forms include diagnostic radiology such as x-rays and ultrasounds.
Since medical imaging is the most common technique and process that is utilized in the medical field it’s a demanding career. Medical and diagnostic imaging includes the creating of images of the human body for clinical and medical procedures to diagnose, examine, and treat a disease. Someone who practices or specializes in diagnostic imaging is called a radiologist. Radiologists perform tasks on humans with diseases or certain medical condition and interpret images. They utilize a wide variety of imaging technologies such as x-rays, and ultrasounds. Two forms of radiographic images are used in medical imaging which are projection radiography and fluoroscopy. These two 2D techniques are used more often despite the 3D tomography due to its low cost.
GoAnimate.com: Imaging by TonyL
Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!
Projectional Radiography
Projectional radiography also known as x-rays, are mostly used to determine the type and extent of an injury or fracture as well as detecting pathological changes in the lungs. Fluoroscopy is very similar to projectional radiography. The only difference is that fluoroscopic images display the motion of something, provided by multiple picture captures every certain number of seconds. In its movement it allows us to see a 2D visual of a certain body part for treatments of diagnostics.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is the treatment of a disease utilizing ionizing radiation and is primarily associated with cancer treatments but to a certain point is limited to treatments of non-malignant diseases. Ionizing radiations gives out energy in the area of treatment and injures or destroys cells by destroying their genetic material, allowing it to impose the cells to continue growing. However the damaging of cancer and normal cells occur, the cells are eventually able to repair themselves to heal and work properly.
Nuclear Medicine
Diagnostic nuclear medicine uses radioactive tracers when imaging and also to see a specific area of an organ. The radioactive tracing treatment is performed on a patient by injections orally or other alternatives depending on the site of treatment and organ. Once in process of detecting something, a small gamma camera is inserted to the area of an organ and is observed. Whenever a patient is given the wrong radiopharmaceuticals is called misadministration. Actually about 25% are misadministrated each year that undergo treatments. They are commonly caused due to the lack of communication errors such as improper labels of vials and syringes, distractions in the busy environment, and the high stress in emergency situations. Learning from their mistakes may be costly but also help them avoid future accidents. In cases of any misadministration it is said to take immediate use of all sources to minimize any harmful outcomes in the patient while also informing a nuclear physician and therefore calculating the wrong dosage that was given. Once all certain precautions and treatments were given then it must go down in the medical records.
Imaging
Ultrasonography is the usage of principle sound waves and physics to produce images without using radiation. These wave sounds can be determined by their amplitude and frequency which therefore show the amount of energy carried by the waves. The ultrasound spectrum is superior then a human hearing ability and is measured at approximately 20,000 hertz. It contains a transducer that picks up vibrations and produces images. The speed of propagation of sound waves depends primarily on the characteristics of tissue. The impedance of a tissue reflects its acoustic characteristics. The acoustic impedance is the product of the density of the fabric by the speed of propagation of sound waves. As the beam of sound waves moves through tissues of different acoustic characteristics, a portion of this beam is reflected. The proportion of reflected sound waves depends on the difference in acoustic impedance of the tissues traversed. The reception of echoes by the transducer will then generate an electrical current. These signals undergo a series of treatments resulting in the formation of an image in grayscale. Then all the information gathered is therefore based on differences in acoustic impedance of different structures crossings. Because ultrasound do not use X-rays or magnetic fields, it is easy to see that the information provided by this method differs from those obtained by computed tomography (CT) or MRI. An ultrasound image of a kidney is quite different from those obtained by CT or MRI. These three radiological techniques can be complementary. The diagnostic information obtained by ultrasound was taken of differences in behavior between acoustic normal tissue and diseased tissue. More acoustic behavior of this difference, the greater the lesion is easily detectable. Conversely, if the diseased tissue has acoustic properties of the surrounding healthy tissue, the injury may be difficult to identify.
Diagnostic medical sonography is also implied to medical imaging. To get these images, a sonographer spreads a gel in the area of where the images are going to be taken. Mostly they are used in pregnant women. It is then that the medical sonographer goes over the womens stomach with a transducer. During this process the mother can see the images displayed on live video of the baby. This process allows the mother to see the movements of the baby, such as its heart beat and any other physical movement. Sonographers look for any malfunctions or problems in the baby. They perform these tasks on a regular basis to keep up with the baby and to make sure all signs of the baby are well.
Neuroimaging uses various differente techniques to radiate images of the brain. Neurosurgeons use this to look for any abnormalities in the brains blood rush and for any types of cancers, tumors, and or injuries. This process is called structural imaging. Another way of neuroimaging is when it is used to diagnose metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer's and other injuries on a larger and better scale. sDigital Mammography is a form of mammography that utilizes digital receptors and electronics instead of x-ray film to help observe breast tissue for breast cancer.
Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance imaging(NMRI), and medical resonance tomography is the process of medical imaging in radiology. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is the seeing of atoms in the human body. An MRI scan uses very strong and powerful magnetic field for the magnetization of certain atoms within the body and radio frequent beams from the scanner. MRI's give a good difference in contrast between the soft tissues of the body which therefore make it helpful in getting good images such as the heart, brain, and muscles. Unlike other forms of imaging, MRI's does not use ionizing radiation.
Brain Tumors
A brain tumor is a group of cells that grow in the brain abnormally. Tumors can cause a large harm to the brains cells. Brain tumors can either be malignant or benign. A malignant tumor, also known as brain cancer, which grows at a fast rate and can end up envading healthy areas of the brian. Benign tumors don't possess cancer cells. Benign cells look normal under a microscope and usually grow at a very slow rate. Brain tumors are categorized in two groups: primary or metastatic. Primary tumors begin inside the brain. A metastatic tumor is formed when cancer cells from other parts of the body move indirectly to the area of the brain and therefore metastatic tumors are alomost malignant. Brain tumors are diagnosed depending on the on the location, and the malfunctional tissues involved. If a tumor is diagnosed as malignant, the cells are observed with a microscope to b able to say how malignant it is. During this procedure, analysis are taken, rated and graded by their level of malignant proficiency from least to greatest. Specific attributes that help determine the grade of the tumor include the growth rate, the amount of blood flowing into the cells, the presence of dead cells in the center of the tumor, and if the cells are confined into certain areas and how the cancerous cells are to the normal ones. The primary cause of brain tumors is not yet known. It is believed that some environmental and genetic factors may contribute. Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures, behavior changes, memory loss, visual and hearing problems.
There are many different therapy possibilities that can be used to treat brain tumors. The treatment varies on the size, growth rate, type, and the health of the patient. Possible procedures and treatments include radiational therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination. Generally surgery is the first choice of treatment, as this is the best option for reducing pressure in the brain rapidly. The procedures that have to do mor with radiation include brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and radiosurgery. Radiational therapy uses external beams of gamma rays, x-rays, or protons that are used and directed targeted to the tumors cancerous cells to kill and shrink them as much as possible. This type of treatment normally last several weeks.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a highly advanced procedure of high precision radiotherapy that uses computer generated controllers that controls x-ray accelorators in order to receive accurate radiation doses to a malignant tumor or other areas around and within the tumor.
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**__//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Physics
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiation/index.html
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=thera-brain
http://rpop.iaea.org/RPOP/RPoP/Content/InformationFor/HealthProfessionals/1_Radiology/Fluoroscopy.htm